Ok, 90% or so of those chain stores hire people who know next to nothing about animals. They just hire people who can make the sale. They never train for anything, or encourage research, so the employees just have whatever they have heard to go on.

True, sometimes you get people there who actually know their stuff (like me and some of the folks here on BP.net), but they usually don't last long there because they can't stand the archaic policies and care sheets from the 50's they're forced to use.

The Petsmart I used to work at just started carrying snakes, and recently got in two CH Balls...of course they are both in the same tank. Doesn't matter that I've told them to separate them, they won't do it. The card with the 'basic care info' and price is so wrong it makes me cringe. True, I heard that they test employees before they can handle the snakes...but I shudder to think how simple and stupid the test probably is.

Mind you, not all of these stores are that bad... but most are.